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Erin Mills News

erinmills.net Tuesday Sept 3th , 2019

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Important Reminders First day: The start time will be 8:10am and the end time 2:10pm. All grade 6s are to go to the gym and Grade

7/8 are to find their homeroom line outside the school. The school will be providing all locks for the lockers. The idea is to help with security and ensuring that all

students have a place to put valuables and their belongings at school. More information to come.

Date Event Time Location September 3 First day Back to School 8: 10am -

September 4 Grade 6 ~ Welcome back assembly 8:30am Gym

September 5 Grade 7 ~ Welcome back assembly 8:30am Gym

September 6 Grade 8~ Welcome back assembly 8:30am Gym

September 12th Instumental Students only – Long & McQuade 6 – 7pm Front Foyer

NEW Student Photo Day – Date Correction Oct 3 Photo Retake – Nov 5th

All Day Gym

September 20 School Council Elections All Day

Until 6pm Main Office

September 24 Reorganization Day School No school for Students

All Day

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September 27 Orange Shirt Day All Day --

September 30 Activity Fee Due on School Cash Online 9:00 am School Cash Online

September 30 First School Council Meeting 6pm – 7pm Library

October 3 Curriculum Night (Open House) TBA School Grounds

October 4 Terry Fox Walk – See walking permission section in student agenda.

All Day School Grounds

October 11 Professional Development Day – no school for students All day -

Dear Erin Mills MS Families, Welcome to another exciting year at Erin Mills MS. We hope that families have had the chance to enjoy the warm and sunny summer months. Staff have been in during the last week in August to prepare for students and what will be a great year full of learning and new experiences. This year, we welcome the following staff members to the EMMS family new and returning:

Students and Parents will receive an assortment of information in the first few weeks of the school year. It is very important to keep track of documents and ensure that items such as permission forms and monies requested are returned in a timely fashion. Thank you for your attention to these matters. We are delighted to invite our families to our “Curriculum Night" (Open House) on Oct 3rd. Communication will be made with plenty of notice so that family can make the necessary arrangements. This evening is an important one in building the partnerships between home and school in order to ensure students get off to a great year at Erin Mills MS. Communication between the home and school are essential. You will be connected to our school website where you can read the newsletter. If you have any questions about your child's progress or need to share information, please address them first to your child’s teacher. This partnership is critical in helping your child to be successful. We look forward to your ongoing support and a great year of learning! Sincerely,

LTO Grade 6 Matthew Zilic Grade 7 Sarah Rescoskie

LTO Grade 6 Alana Nair Grade 8 Corinne Dubois

LTO Grade 6 Deidre-Ann Gardener Support Team

(ISSP/ESL) Marla Maharaj

LTO Grade 6 Natalie Spencer 0.5 Planning Time

Grade 6 Julie Kahnert 0.5 Educational

Resource Facilitator TBA

Principal: Maria Kalantzakos VP: Iona Newman-Jobity Office Manager: Jasminka Pavlovic

Twitter:@erinmillsms Instagram: follow us

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Maria Kalantzakos – Principal Student Safety and Teacher Supervision At EMMS, teacher supervision begins at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m. Students are encouraged to plan their morning routine around this arrival time and to leave school promptly at dismissal time so that we can be certain of their safety. At the end of the school day, staff is on duty until 2:25 p.m. to assist students with boarding the buses and to see that they are on their way home. Students and their families should review their routines for entry and dismissal and talk about a contingency plan should unusual circumstances occur. Students should go directly to the office for help should they miss their bus. We appreciate the many families who update us with their current phone numbers for home, work, cell phones and emergency contact so that the office may help students when needed. School Enrolment and Reorganization Our opening plan for EMMS's school organization is based on having 454 students enrolled by September 3th. Teachers and their teaching assignments were allocated based on this student population. Should that number change, it may be necessary to re-organize our school. Accordingly, this may correspond to a change in teachers and their homeroom classes and/or assignments. The tentative nature of the first few weeks of school organization makes it possible for the Peel Board to respond to changes in student populations throughout the district. If there is a change in students' homeroom teacher and class, we will let families know as soon as possible. We attempt to make changes as smooth as possible.

Student Activity Fee Our Student Activity Fee will be $50 dollars on School CashOnline. This provides students with a student agenda,

yearbook full of memories and and Phys Ed uniform (shorts, t shirt and drawstring bag for an additional $5). The agenda contains our school routines, expectations and code of conduct and is used as a hall pass. We ask families to carefully read the front pages of the agenda so that they are familiar with the contents and sign the sections of the agenda that require parent/guardian signature.

The student agenda is also an integral part of teaching students time management, study habits and organization – all essential life skills. In the agenda, students are to record due dates and homework assignments. It is also an excellent way for parents and teachers to communicate. The Activity Fee is due before September 30th. Each item will be listed individually as we understand this helps families with items needed (ie agenda and lock) and which will be decided later on in the year. If you have any questions feel free to call the school and speak to your child’s homeroom teacher and/or the office.

Lunch at EMMS – Hot Lunch Program is coming ~ stay tuned for the exciting options that will be available in October We believe that offering a hot lunch program is beneficial to our students’ well-being and a convenient delight. At this time, we are reviewing our lunch program by gathering feedback from students and parents. The goal is to provide a "Lunch Program" that allows a student to buy a hot and healthy lunch at school. Our lunch program will meet the Ministry Food & Beverage Policy guidelines. Stay tuned for more information. To support a safe climate, students are NOT permitted to go off school campus, to South Common Mall or South Common CC during their lunch time. Dress Code At EMMS, students are asked to dress in a manner that demonstrates respect for themselves and others. Students are expected to wear:

Shorts/skirts of a suitable length (i.e. when a student’s arms are by their sides the shorts/skirts should touch their middle finger with no undergarments showing as students use stairs

Tee shirts without questionable messages/logos/ captions Outdoor wear (gloves, scarves, boots etc.) are not to be worn indoors

Please refer to the student agenda for any additional information. Inappropriately dressed students will call home to have a parent/guardian bring a change of clothing or wear a clean t-shirt provided by the admin team.

Terry Fox Run/Walk ~ October 4th Our school will participate in the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. EMMS students, along with many other schools in Peel, will participate in this fundraising event for cancer research. We hope to raise a significant amount of money for the Terry Fox Fund and are asking that every student bring in a "TOONIE FOR TERRY" on the day of the event. Let’s try and aim for a goal of $1000 this year.

Student Accident Insurance The Peel District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school property or during school activities including extracurricular sports. Each year, many of our families spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at school, on field trips, while participating in non-school activities, or at home. If a student is injured, parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for any costs not covered by provincial health care or their employer’s health plan. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage. The provincial health care system does

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not cover costs which are commonly related to accidents including dental work, ambulance fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy. All of these are covered by Reliable Life’s student accident insurance plan. It is strongly recommended that all families consider this coverage, especially if your child participates in extracurricular activities. Annual plans, which provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year coverage, range from $13.50 to $32.00 per year. Through the application only you can be covered for the school day only as low as $8.00 per year. Family rates for three or more children are available. The insurance agreement is between you and Reliable Life Insurance Company. You can apply for coverage through paper application or online at www.insuremykids.com. For more information call Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at 1-800-463-KIDS (5437). A Reminder about Volunteering At Erin Mills MS (All are welcome) We encourage parents to become active in our school community and for some family members working in our school or on a field trip is a viable option. Since September 2001, our Board requires that all volunteers have a Criminal Record Check (CRC). Parents wishing to accompany students on a class field trip need to have a completed a recent CRC. Thank you in advance for your interest in possibly volunteering at our school. To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. A police background check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this background check.

Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel District School Board as being a school volunteer. Beginning this year, all returning volunteers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able to volunteer with the Peel board until you have returned this form. If you have any questions about criminal record checks or the offence declaration form, please call the board office at 905-890-1010 ext. 2488.

Keep students safe in school parking lots Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following guidelines:

There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot, please escort your child to or from the nearest foot patroller and use the main crosswalk.

Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volunteer.

The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.

After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind you.

If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle the parking lot if permitted and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.

Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs. Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures. Bus Eligibility The Peel District School Board eligibility distances for transportation are as follows:

Grades 6 to 8 students – 2 km The eligibility distances measured are the shortest, safe walking route along sidewalks, roadways and paved pedestrian walkways from school property line to home property line. How do I know if my child is eligible for transportation? Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has a website where you can find out whether your child is eligible for transportation based on your home address. Visit www.stopr.ca or businfo.stopr.ca, click on "Transportation Eligibility" and enter your information. In addition, if your child is eligible for transportation, beginning the last week of August to the end of June each year, you can securely access your child’s transportation information, including bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off times, from businfo.stopr.ca. Click on “Student Login” and enter the information required. To ensure privacy of information you will be required to enter the Ontario Education Number (OEN), which can be found on your child’s report card. For more information regarding procedures, late buses, cancellations, safety and frequently asked questions please visit the Student Transportation of Peel Region website at www.stopr.ca.

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After October 1st , any available spaces will be offered through the "Courtesy Transportation" process. Please see Mrs Newman-Jobity, our VP, to receive a form. Bus spaces will be offered by October 1st . This is to ensure that seats for eligible students are available until enrolment and bus routes are stable.

Safe Arrival/Attendance at School Time for school - A parent’s guide to reporting school absences All parents/guardians of elementary students need to report their children's absences or late arrivals from school via our automated School Messenger SafeArrival system. Use one of the following methods to set-up your new SafeArrival account. Please ensure the number and email address that you are using to report your child’s absences are those that we have on file at the school. SchoolMessenger app (free from Apple or Google Play)

1. Download the SchoolMessenger app 2. Tap Sign Up to create your account

Web and Mobile Web: go.schoolmessenger.ca

1. Go to the above website 2. Click Sign Up to create your account

Interactive Toll-free Phone

1. Call the toll-free number: 1-855-209-6155 2. Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence

As always, please report your child’s absences before the start of the school day. Late arrivals and/or early departures should be reported as soon as possible. If your child’s absence is not reported in advance, the automated notification system will contact you and will provide an opportunity to verify the absence. By reporting your child absent in advance on the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or SchoolMessenger mobile app, you will not receive a call. As always, if you have any questions or require any assistance, please contact the school.

Medical Students All students who have a medical condition must alert the school immediately. Contacting the school at the beginning of the year alerts us to the condition and allows us to update our data. In cases where the condition is serious or requires medication to be kept at school, two forms will be sent home. The first allows us to keep the medication at school and second outlines the steps that the school will need to take in the event of an emergency. Both will need to be signed by a doctor.

Additionally, we have a number of students that had medication in the school last year, but have no medication in the school at this time. If your child has taken the medication home over the summer, it is imperative that it is returned to the school as soon as possible with new documentation. If the medication is no longer required, again, please let the school knows as soon as possible so that we can update our data base. Please track expiration dates for medication (e.g. epi pens) and ensure that the school has non-expired medication on hand. ALL students who require to have an EPi-Pens/Puffers will be required to wear them throughout the day in the fanny pack. Any student that does not have the EPi-Pen and/or Puffer on them will be asked to call home and one must be brought to the school. If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to call Ms Kalantzakos.

Prescribed Medication In the event that your family doctor prescribes medication for your child at some time throughout the school year, we have attached a form for the doctor to complete before we are able to give medication at school. All medication must be kept at the office and students should not have medication in their locker or backpack. Students are NOT to self administer medication for safety reasons.

School Council As per Board policy, elections for School Council must take place each fall. The following timeline will bring us to Election Day on Sept 25th .

Sept. 3rd - Council Nomination forms sent home

Sept. 13th Nomination forms due back to school office

Sept. 13th – list of nominees sent home/posted on school website by end of day

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Parents may cast ballots on Sept 20th from throughout the day and from 2:10 until 6pm. The top 12 candidates will form the new School Council. The first school council meeting will take place on Monday, Sept 30th in the school library at 6:00 pm. School council allows parents an opportunity to have ongoing participation and input into improving the school. Last year, we discussed ways in which to improve EQAO scores and discussed the school's technology initiative, to name just a few. We hope to see you at the meeting.

Picture Day

EMMS students will have their class and individual photo taken on October 3rd . More information to come home with your child(ren) first week of school. Schoolwide Picture retakes will be on Tuesday Nov 5th.

Access important student information through our online parent portal - ParentConnect Our school offers ParentConnect, a safe and secure website, as a convenient method for parents/legal guardians to stay informed and have easy access to important student information. By registering, you will have access to:

view school-based alerts and information

access real time absence reporting

view current and historic elementary report card information

get up-to-date busing information

review secondary school credit history and diploma status To register and begin using ParentConnect, visit http://parent.peelschools.org or click the ParentConnect button on your child’s school website. If you have any questions, please contact the school.

Important information regarding student privacy and use of third party apps and web services At the Peel District School Board, we are committed to helping each child achieve to the best of his or her ability. Using Modern Learning tools is an essential component of teaching and learning in today’s world. Modern Learning tools can include Internet sites where users interact and collaborate in online environments, websites where users log in, and/or applications for tablets. The Peel board believes that these online services are key tools in aiding students and teachers in the development of 21st Century skills. Please note: In order to support student privacy, Peel board students are encouraged to be mindful of how and when they use their school email (studentnumber@pdsb.net) to create accounts on any third party, non-protected domain, apps/web services.

The terms and conditions of these app/web-services may not align with the Peel board’s Registering and Use of Software, Web-Based Services and Apps guidelines as their services may collect and display the student’s private information, including the full name, publicly. If your child uses their own personal accounts to access these apps/web services, please encourage them to use privacy settings to ensure that their account information, including full name, is not shared publicly. Please visit www.bit.ly/byodparentresources for more information. Stay up-to-date with Erin Mills MS and Peel board news School news: http://schools.peelschools.org/1324/Pages/default.aspx Visit our school website to learn what’s happening at your school, including:

the latest school news

contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee

the school calendar

enrolment data

school hours

registration information

online library catalogue You can subscribe online to receive email notifications for news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities related to your school. You can also choose to receive email and/or text message notifications for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the “Subscribe” link on the left side of the main page of the school website.

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Peel board trustees accountable to the community The Peel District School Board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. They are elected by public school taxpayers every four years during municipal elections and are directly accountable to the community. The current 12 trustees have been elected to serve from Dec. 3, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2022:

Trustee Ward(s) City Email Phone #

Carrie Andrews

7 and 8 Brampton carrie.andrews@peelsb.com 647-473-1858

Susan Benjamin 5 Mississauga susan.benjamin@peesb.com 647-268-1435

Stan Cameron (Chair)

Caledon stan.cameron@peelsb.com 905-880-1162

Robert Crocker

6 and 11 Mississauga robert.crocker@peelsb.com 416-528-1312

Nokha Dakroub

9 and 10 Mississauga nokha.dakroub@peelsb.com 289-914-0214

Will Davies 2 and 6 Brampton will.davies@peelsb.com 647-218-0295

David Green

1 and 5 Brampton david.green@peelsb.com 905-495-4579

Sue Lawton (Vice-Chair)

3 and 4 Mississauga susan.lawton@peelsb.com 905-625-8084

Brad MacDonald

2 and 8 Mississauga brad.macdonald@peelsb.com 905-593-3547

John Marchant 1 and 7 Mississauga john.marchant@peelsb.com 905-599-5646

Kathy McDonald

3 and 4 Brampton kathy.mcdonald@peelsb.com 905-796-8163

Balbir Sohi 9 and 10 Brampton balbir.sohi@peelsb.com 416-828-4330

What do trustees do?

advocate for the needs of the community

help members of the community address concerns about the school system

govern and set policies for the board

explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community

evaluate and review the board’s achievement of its goals, objectives and strategic plan

participate in budget development, approve budget decisions and monitor its progress

protect the future of the board by always considering the long-term effects of decisions Visit www.peelschools.org and check out the ‘Meet Your Trustee’ section to subscribe to board meeting agendas and minutes and read highlights from board meeting.

Celebrating Faith and Culture

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

September Corn Moon Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

September 1 or 2 ● Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayak Chauth Hinduism September 1 Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Sikhism September 2 Labour Day Canada September 3 ● Samvatsari Jainism September 4 (SC) Farvardegan Zoroastrianism September 8 to 26 the month of `Izzat in Bahá'í Bahá'í September 10 or 11 ● Ashura Islam September 11 (J) Nayrouz Christianity September 12 to 16 Ghambar Paitishahem Zoroastrianism September 12 or 13 Anant Chaturdashi Hinduism (12) and Jainism (13) September 12 ● Kshamavani and Daslakshan Parva ends Jainism September 19 Powley Day Indigenous Worldview (Métis) September 22 Shuki-Sorei-Sai Shinto September 23 ● Mabon/Harvestide Wicca September 27 to October 15 the month of Mashi'yyat Bahá'í

September 29 Sharad Navratri Hinduism Sunset of September 29 to October 1 Rosh Hashanah Judaism

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

If you require a hard copy of the newsletter after September -- please let the admin team know immediatel